Kaduna CP reads riot act to guber candidates

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Shehu, has called on governorship candidates in the state to watch and guide their utterances and desist from making provocative statements that can spark crisis in the state.

He gave the caution during a meeting with governorship candidates of various political parties in the state, which was held at the Police Officers Mess yesterday.

Alhaji Umar Shehu said the recent comments by the candidates are worrisome and that there is a need to call them to orders, adding that Kaduna state as a center of political activities in the north cannot afford

to be dragged into another unnecessary crisis by candidates who want to lead the people.

“We are all aware of the past history of post electoral violence in the state, and lives and property lost. In 2003, no death was recorded, in 2007, few deaths were recorded and in 2011, it was a bad scenario. If we don’t take time, 2015 may be worse.

“So, it is time for us as security agents to call them to order and allow them to know that the people of the state will hold them responsible for any breach of the law and order that emanated from unguided speech,” he said.

Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Muhktar Ramalan Yero, who is also the governorship candidate of PDP, said the meeting is a welcome development, adding that everything discussed at the venue will be passed across to his teeming supporters.

Similarly, the APC governorship candidate, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said himself and the party will play by the rule of the game.

Meanwhile, a nongovernmental organization, under the auspices of Concerned Civil Society, has said election is a game and not war, hence politicians should know that they are playing game among each other and not fighting war.

The group said whoever emerged winner in the election should be seen as the one who knows how to play the game.

The coordinator of the group, Emmanuel Bonnet, in a press conference yesterday, said the association is taking daily report of statements, especially inciting ones made by politicians in the state.